During nearly every even-strength shift of his rookie season, Tyler Myers would look across the blue line and see Henrik Tallinder as his partner. It was a quality pairing, one that propelled Myers toward the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year and pushed Tallinder to a bounceback season.
It was a season that earned Tallinder a four-year, $13.5 million contract with New Jersey. Obviously, that means Myers gets a new partner next season.
"I’m looking forward to seeing who it is," Myers said at the Sabres' development camp at Niagara University. "It hurt a little bit [seeing Tallinder leave], but at the same time I know it’s a business. I wish him all the best in New Jersey, but I am going to miss seeing him across the ice. It was fun playing with him this past year. He did a lot more for me than he knows."
Myers is a right-handed shot, so that likely means he'll get a left-handed partner. As of now, that leaves the coaching staff the following options: newcomer Jordan Leopold, Andrej Sekera, Chris Butler and Mike Weber. If the Sabres wanted to go righty-righty (which they've done, although against their will), they can choose from Craig Rivet, Steve Montador and Marc-Andre Gragnani to play with Myers.
---John Vogl
